Föreningen Svenska Robotbåtar FSvR

Association of Swedish Missile Boats

The film was taken from one of our spectacular trip in the Swedish archipelago.

Association of Swedish Missile Boats

Imagine speeding through the Swedish archipelago, in over 40 knots, on board a missile-armed ship, listening to the roar of three Rolls-Royce gas turbines and feel fellowship with your crew members during a difficult mission. Quite some officers and sailors of the Royal Swedish navy has served on the fast missile boats of the Norrköping-class (later, after modernization, called the Ystad-class) during the years and they all have memories of those days. Today, there are no longer any fast missile boats in active duty in the Swedish navy. Almost all have gone to scrapping, but one ship is still operating, now as a civilian museum ship.

The Association of Swedish Missile Boats took over the HMS Ystad from the Swedish navy in 2006 in order to preserve the ship in its original condition and keep it fully operational. The association also wants to spread knowledge about the role, for more than 30 years, of this class of ships in the Swedish armed forces. We offer companies and individuals the opportunity to support the association's work by hiring the ship for various activities. It can be anything from a light lunch on board, while the ship is moored, to a longer trip with meals and accommodation onboard. The ship is normally based at the former RSwN torpedo base at Gålö, south of Stockholm, but is occasionally moored at the Vasa museum in Stockholm.

You can help preserve a unique part of the Swedish navy, the missile boat Ystad. At the same time you get the chance to experience the unique feeling of "riding a fast missile boat". Apply for membership in our association and, according to your own ability and opportunities, help keep Ystad “ship-shape” and spread knowledge about missile boats and there role in the defense of Sweden during the Cold War.

The association's activities:

FSvR is a non-profit organization with the goal of preserving Ystad in its original condition and to spread knowledge of the historical role and the unique technology of this class of ships. This is done in cooperation with maritime authorities and organizations in Sweden. The association is open to anyone who sympathizes with, and supports, its goals.

FSvR has an agreement with SMM National Maritime Museums to run the former missile boat HMS Ystad as a living museum ship. This means keeping a trained crew and the ship maintained in order to enable the ship to run. It also includes collecting and preserving documents, manuals and pictures/videos regarding this class of ships and finally spreading information about the ship to the public.

There are also plans of creating a living maritime museum in Stockholm, in cooperation with SMM, local authorities and other museum ships. The Ystad would of course be one of the main attractions.

As a full member, you will have the opportunity to become part of the crew and work on board the ship, both in harbor and on trips. We occasionally show our ship to the public and at these occasions we need skilled guides. You are also, as a member, welcome to our ship evening’s and other gatherings. Last, but not least important, we must constantly maintain the ship. For this we need members with skills that range from removing rust and painting, to repairing gas turbines and computers.

If you are not able to join and work actively, but still think that a missile boat is worth preserving, you can become a supporting member.Membership fee for 2012:Full member: 1200 SEK.Junior full member: 350 SEK
For 18-25 years. (Under 18 years with parental consent) 350 SEKSupporting member: 350 SEK.

Missile boat R142 HMS Ystad

General description: As one of the Swedish Navy's twelve missile boats, the R142 HMS Ystad was arguably the most powerful surface ship the Swedish Navy could muster during the end of the Cold War. The primary task for these ships was surface attack and many peace time training scenarios included Soviet amphibious operations.

The missile boats primary tasks in case of an armed conflict included:

Attack

Reconnaissance

Mine laying

Escort

Main tasks in peace time tasks included:

Train officers and conscripts of the Swedish Navy.

Ensure Swedish territorial integrity.

Support civil society (primarily SAR – Search and Rescue).

International activities (e.g. joint operations with other countries' naval forces).

Ships Data:

The missile boat is a displacing vessel, with the hull made of welded steel plates and the deckhouse made of alloy.

The ship can be reconfigured for different numbers of missile racks, torpedo tubes and mines/depth charges.

Main dimensions:

Length overall (LOA): 44.97 m

Length in Water Line (LWL): 41.1 m

Beam: 7.49 m

Draft aft: 2.3 m (rudder).

Height above water line: Radar: 13.2 m or UK mast: 16.1 m

Deplacement: 230 tons.

Shaft power: approx. 10 000 kW (13 000 hp).

Speed: 40 knots.

Crew: 12 officers & 12-15 conscript sailors.

Torpedbåtar – robotbåtar - missile boats

Ship

Designation

Shipyard

Launched

Delivered

Norrköping

T131, R131

KkrV

16 nov 1972

11 may 1973

Nynäshamn

T132, R132

KkrV

24 apr 1973

28 sep 1973

Norrtälje

T133, R133

KkrV

18 sep 1973

1 feb 1974

Varberg

T134, R134

KkrV

2 feb 1974

24 june 1974

Västerås

T135, R135

KkrV

15 may 1974

25 okt 1974

Västervik

T136, R136

KkrV

2 sep 1974

15 jan 1975

Umeå

T137, R137

KkrV

15 jan 1975

12 sep 1975

Piteå

T138, R138

KkrV

12 may 1975

28 nov 1975

Luleå

T139, R139

KkrV

19 aug 1975

28 nov 1975

Halmstad

T140, R140

KkrV

17 okt 1975

9 apr 1976

Strömstad

T141, R141

KkrV

26 apr 1976

24 sep 1976

Ystad

T142, R142

KkrV

3 sep 1976

10 dec 1976

The improved torpedo boats of the Norrköping class were based on the Spica series and were in appearance similar to its predecessors, but one meter longer. The latest model of the Bofors 57 mm gun replaced the old gun, giving increased rate of fire, faster target-acquisition and new types of ammunition. A new torpedo and artillery computer (Arte722), with frequency hopping radar, was installed, together with a new combat information system (ELPLO). Although no operational anti-ship missiles yet existed, preparations were made for such. The new equipment resulted in an increase of weight, which required a slightly different hull shape and increased displacement. The new hull shape and, relative to the Spica series, the improved air intake, enabled the ships to reach speeds of up to 42 knots.

In 1979 it was decided to develop a Swedish anti-ship missile. Due to this the Norrköping class was upgraded during 1981-1985. The ships were provided with new surveillance radar, computerized command and control systems and passive radar reconnaissance equipment. The modern wire-guided and homing Torpedo 613 was also installed. In early 1985 deliveries began of the new Swedish-made RBS15, a robot of the highest international standard. Each ship could carry eight missiles. The missiles are radar homing, has an advanced flight path and a range of over 100 km. Depending on the number of missiles taken on board, two to six torpedo tubes could be carried. The class of ships was renamed the Missile Boat type Norrköping. The designation letter T was also replaced by the letter R, reflecting the change from Torpedo boat to Missile boat (Sw. Robotbåt, R).

The missile boats were very successful. Arguably there were no naval ships in the world to be found with the same high standard in weapons and systems, in such a small hull. Six of the ships were decommissioned and scrapped in the late 1990's, while the other six were modernized starting in 1997 in order to be technically operational until 2010. On September 1, 2005, HMS Ystad was decommissioned as the last missile boat of the Royal Swedish Navy.